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Title	Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini
Article no.	9240290
Category	Concert/wind/brass band
Subcategory	Original contemporary music (20th, 21st century)
Instrumentation	Ha (concert/wind band)
Format	PrtStm (full score and parts)
Country of publication	USA (us)
Publisher *	Southern Music Company
Publisher's article no. *	SMC S612CB
Delivery publisher *	Hal Leonard Publishing
Delivery publisher's art.no. *	HL 03777785
EAN (GTIN) *	0884088777920
UPC *	884088777920
Year of publication	1989
Price	click here
Composer	Barnes, James
Difficulty level	5
Evaluation level of countries	C5 (Swiss highest class); D5 (German highest level)
Duration	16:25
Additional info/contents	The set of twenty variations is based on the famous theme of Paganini's 24th Caprice in A Minor; for solo violin, which, or course, is the same theme used by Brahms and Rachmaninoff for their famous compositions, as well as by more contemporary composers (such as Lutoslawski and Blacher). I decided that, like Brahms and Rachmaninoff, I would stay with the basic harmonic progression that Paganini used. The reason I wrote the piece in A minor is because Paganini's Caprice (which is itself a set of nine virtuosic variations) is in A minor. I did this out of respect for the composer's original intentions. My overall concept was to use the variation technique to showcase every solo instrument and/or every instrumental section of the modern wind band. In doing so, it was my intent to give the Marine Band a work they could play almost anywhere for almost any kind of audience: a piece full of energy, drama, and even a little humor. Quelle/Source: James Barnes
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Programme notes *: Niccolò Paganini's "Caprice No. 24 in A minor" is one of the most famous and technically demanding works for violin. This piece is the last of the 24 Caprices for solo violin that Paganini composed between 1802 and 1817. The "Caprice No. 24" is particularly famous for its virtuoso runs, double stops and the variety of technical challenges. It consists of a theme, eleven variations and a finale, making it a prime example of Paganini's masterful playing and innovative compositional technique. The "Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolò Paganini" for wind orchestra by James Barnes is a modern and creative arrangement of this iconic theme. Barnes, a renowned American composer and conductor, has adapted Paganini's famous theme into 20 different variations, each reflecting different characters and moods. These variations offer a rich palette of musical colors and technical challenges for the wind orchestra. From the beginning of the work, Paganini's theme undergoes a variety of transformations as Barnes introduces it through different instrumental sections and pairs of soloists. This approach allows the wind orchestra's sonic possibilities to be fully exploited, giving each instrument its own voice and expressiveness. The tempos and moods of the variations range from delicate and slow passages to fast and lively sections. For example, there is a delicate Adagio played by the English horn that creates a lyrical and melancholy atmosphere. This variation provides a stark contrast to the nimble and technically challenging Presto passages of the flutes, which honor Paganini's original in its virtuosity. One particularly notable variation is the profound Misterioso Variation, played by the contrabass clarinet. This variation uses the deep, resonant timbre of the contrabass clarinet to create a mysterious and somber mood that presents the theme in a whole new light. The brass is also featured prominently, with variations written specifically for trombone, horn and tuba. These sections use the powerful and majestic sounds of the brass to give the theme a heroic and sublime quality. The percussion section of the orchestra also has its own variation, exploring the rhythmic and tonal possibilities of the percussion instruments. This variation adds an additional dimension to the work by incorporating the percussion as an equal partner in the musical narrative. In summary, James Barnes' "Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolò Paganini" is a masterful homage to Paganini's "Caprice No. 24 in A minor". Through the diverse variations and the innovative use of the different instrumental groups of the wind orchestra, Barnes succeeds in presenting Paganini's theme in a new and fascinating context. Each variation brings out a new facet of the theme, making the work an exciting and varied musical journey that shows both the virtuosity and the creative power of the wind orchestra. Quelle/Source: musicaifno.net (KI) Information: Southern/Hal Leonard Wind Repertory Project

	Format
	Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini (concert/wind band), full score and parts
	Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini (concert/wind band), full score
	Fantasy Variations on a Theme by Niccolo Paganini (concert/wind band), world parts; European parts
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	BCL - Band Classic Library #6, audio CD
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